License plate holder



Nov. 23, 1948. Jfs. SLAMKA ucEnss PLATE momma Filed-mam 25, 1945 INVENTOR'" JOSEPH S.SLAMKA A TO'RNEYS Patented Nov. 23, 1948 UNITED SS'IIAET E'TS QFF'FQEL LICENSEEPLATIl-EHQEDER IoseplirSLSlttmka, Milwaukee;,wis;

Application- Marcln25, 194B; SalaliNm 6R7 :0321

1" Claim. (01.

My invention refers tolicense: plate holder-sand it has for its primary object toprovide a. lazed license plate holder permanently fitted into an opening in the locked trunk door of an automobile, the same having a removable license housing panel formed with an upper reflecting shell carrying light bulbs in circuit with the ignition switch of the vehicle, wheneby theft of the plate is eliminated and, in case of speed violation or hit and run drivers, the license Plate will be constantly illuminated when the vehicle is traveling. Thus, the vehicle may be readily identified.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment, of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of r the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of an automobile illustrating the hinged trunk lid having a license plate holder therein, embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary face view of the trunk lid and license plate holder, with parts broken away and parts in section to more clearly illustrate details of construction.

Fig. 3 is a reversed face view of the license plate holder, with parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the license plate holder, the section being indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary corner sectional view of the holder and glass plate attached thereto, the section being indicated by line 55 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric light bulbs in circuit with a standard ignition switch, which switch controls the starting and stopping of the engine.

Referring by characters to the drawings, I indicates the hinged lid of a trunk compartment, which lid is under lock control. The lid is cut away to form a rectangular opening therein :having upper and lower inturned connected flanges 2-2 respectively.

A rectangular hood 3 has inner ends 3' fitted to the flanges 2 and 2, and said inner edges are permanen-tly semired-at -saidrflanges by. spot weld.- ing; on 'thealike,-,w-herebythe .hoodabecomes: anine tegral part of :the trunk lid.

The protruding front face 4 of the hood is formed with a window or opening 5 therein, and said opening terminates with an inturnecl beaded flange 5 for the reception of a pane of glass 6. The edges of the glass are bound by a felt pad 1, which pad is secured to the hood flange 5' by suitable adhesive, whereby vibration of the glass is absorbed and rattle of the same avoided. It is emphasized, however, that the glass may be secured in any suitable manner, other than that shown.

An angularly disposed metallic panel 8, having a bottom inturned flange 8', is seated and adjusted upon .the hood flange 3 and thereafter it is secured, in its adjusted position, by bolt-s 9.

The upper outwardly flared end of the panel is formed with an outwardly turned circular flange constituting a reflector ID, the end of which 'reflector engages the binder I of the glass.

This reflector portion of the panel 8 is also securely held in its position by an angular strip 1 I, which strip is secured by a bolt II that extends through the flange 2 and end 3 of the upper hood connection.

. Any standard license plate I 2 is fitted to the inner face of the panel, as best indicated in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, the same being in alignment with the glass pane 6, whereby said license plate is visible. The license plate I2 is secured to the panel by felt washer bolts [3-13, which bolts pass through horizontal slots l3, formed in the panel,,to permit securement of various sized license plates.

The plate holder is completed by inserting through the reflector shell a pair of light bulbs 14, which light bulbs, due to the reflector, brilliantly expose the license plate The bulbs, as

indicated in the diagrammatic view, Fig.6, are in circuit with the standard battery B and an ignit'ion switch C, which is key controlled in all standard automobiles.

From the foregoing description, it is understood that the trunk lid, or other sealed wall, is inaccessible from the outside and thus, the license plate holder will always remain intact, unless the lock or seal is released, whereby the party controlling the automobile may have access to the inner open face of the hood. This access is for the purpose of removing and substituting license plates for difierent periods. For example, should it be desired to remove the license plate, the operator will simply swing the angular strip ll clear of the panel and, thereafter the bolts 9-9 are removed, whereby the panel is accessible for the purpose of removing the license plate I 2 and substituting therefor a second license plate. This being effected by manipulating the attaching screws I3.

It is also emphasized, due to the illuminating bulbs being in circuit with the ignition switch, that it is impossible to cut out said bulbs except through manipulation of the ignition key controlled switch 0, in which case the automobile, being cut off from its power, would stop.

I claim:

In a motor vehicle having an inturned flanged opening in its body; the combination of a license plate holder comprising a hood having inturned ends fitted in the flanges of the body opening and I Number provided with a flanged opening'in its front wall.

4 gular strip being adapted to engage and confine :the circular portion of the panel, a license plate secured to said panel, and a light bulb mounted in the circular portion of the same.

JOSEPH S. SLAMKA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Name Date 1,448,881 Theis Mar. 20, 1923 2,057,249 Rioux Oct. 13, 1936 2,104,539 Hacker Jan, 4, 1938 2,128,679 Kielian Aug. 30, 1938 2,349,703 Carlin May 23, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 456,732 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1936 

